What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

norm1909

norm1909

Larry Normandin
Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Consumer advocate Ralph Nader is calling for the elimination of college athletic scholarships, saying the move is necessary to "de-professionalize" college athletes.

"As we near the exciting conclusion of `March Madness' — which would more accurately be described as the 2011 NCAA Professional Basketball Championships — it's time we step back and finally address the myth of amateurism surrounding big-time college football and basketball in this country," said Nader, whose League of Fans is proposing that the scholarships be replaced with need-based financial aid. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposal Thursday, ahead of its official release.

NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said referring to college athletes as professionals defies logic.

"They are students, just like any other student on campus who receives a merit-based scholarship," he said.

Nader, a former presidential candidate, argued that his plan would also help reduce the "win-at-all-costs" mentality in high schools, by reducing the incentive of college scholarships.

"An entire industry has developed in the youth sports arena — club teams, personal trainers, etc. — to prey on families' dreams of an athletic scholarship," he said. "The lure of the elusive athletic scholarship is the primary — sometimes the only — marketing tool these youth sports entrepreneurs use."

He said he would try to gin up support for his proposal from university presidents, Capitol Hill and the Education Department.

"We'll use all the levers," Nader said. "We'll use the parents of athletes who've been mistreated and sick, and forced to play when they're injured."

Nader added that he hadn't yet canvassed Capitol Hill, but figured he'd find lawmakers who are concerned about the way college athletes are treated.

He noted that the Drake Group, a college athletic watchdog organization, has come out in favor of banning athletic scholarships.

Nader said that colleges should either integrate athletics into the educational mission by eliminating college scholarships, or, "openly acknowledge the professionalism in big-time college sports, remove the tax-exempt status currently given to athletic departments, and make universities operate them as unrelated businesses."

The longtime former head of the NCAA, Walter Byers, has called for paying college athletes.

Nader said his proposal was the opening initiative of a rejuvenated League of Fans, a sports reform group that has been dormant for some time.
Click to expand...

Perhaps a better topic for after the FF, but this came out today.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

Too bad not one college team has a nickname of "Corvairs".
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

He'd probably deem the college "unsafe at any competition".
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

Back in The Day,Nadar had a thing or two to say,but all he's done in the past 12 years is to grandstand.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

Division III doesn't have athletic scholarships?
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

AC09 said:
DIII is innocent :D
Click to expand...

I'm just failing to see the relevance here. Not only is it irrelevant to Division III, it's also coming from Ralph Nader which makes it a doubly whammy in terms of irrelevant vapidness.

Unless of course I'm missing something.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

XYZ said:
I'm just failing to see the relevance here. Not only is it irrelevant to Division III, it's also coming from Ralph Nader which makes it a doubly whammy in terms of irrelevant vapidness.

Unless of course I'm missing something.
Click to expand...

It is irrelevant to DIII. But it at least provides a topic of discussion post-FF :rolleyes:
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

AC09 said:
It is irrelevant to DIII. But it at least provides a topic of discussion post-FF :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Not really. It's Ralph Nader. Just another meager attempt to grab attention by utilizing the same tactics employed by your typical sophomore year sociology major who has been inspired to fight the shackles of humanity that have constrained his mind for 19 years. Only difference between most of them and Nader is that they grew up, graduated and got a real job. Somehow that part passed him by. Yawn.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

XYZ said:
Not really. It's Ralph Nader. Just another meager attempt to grab attention by utilizing the same tactics employed by your typical sophomore year sociology major who has been inspired to fight the shackles of humanity that have constrained his mind for 19 years. Only difference between most of them and Nader is that they grew up, graduated and got a real job. Somehow that part passed him by. Yawn.
Click to expand...

Touche. I myself am trying to find a real job. In the meantime, I am playing the part of some bloke having nothing better to do than stay up lurking the forum and watching re-runs of Star Trek :p
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

AC09 said:
Touche. I myself am trying to find a real job. In the meantime, I am playing the part of some bloke having nothing better to do than stay up lurking the forum and watching re-runs of Star Trek :p
Click to expand...

I'll trade you. Feel like being a part-time bloke up late updating a poorly put together (for now) website while I kick back and watch TV? Since I mentioned it...new Frozen Four material is up at www.d3westhockey.com and if our calculations are correct, all barrels are loaded for tomorrow.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

XYZ said:
I'll trade you. Feel like being a part-time bloke up late updating a poorly put together (for now) website while I kick back and watch TV? Since I mentioned it...new Frozen Four material is up at www.d3westhockey.com and if our calculations are correct, all barrels are loaded for tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Hah! I've been waiting for the links to be active! And I assure you it is not poorly put together! It's been progressively better as the season has worn on.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

AC09 said:
Hah! I've been waiting for the links to be active! And I assure you it is not poorly put together! It's been progressively better as the season has worn on.
Click to expand...

Oh, trust me...it's poorly put together. It's tabled out which is a joke these days. But on short notice it at least has proven a viable platform to get decent content put out with, which is something no one else seems to have an interest in. The layout, etc. can all get dealt with in the offseason....
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

XYZ said:
Oh, trust me...it's poorly put together. It's tabled out which is a joke these days. But on short notice it at least has proven a viable platform to get decent content put out with, which is something no one else seems to have an interest in. The layout, etc. can all get dealt with in the offseason....
Click to expand...

I have no experience with webpage design, but it has been very informative this season. The live postseason blogs were definitely a highlight. I'm sure it will only get better in the future.
 
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

XYZ said:
I'm just failing to see the relevance here. Not only is it irrelevant to Division III, it's also coming from Ralph Nader which makes it a doubly whammy in terms of irrelevant vapidness.

Unless of course I'm missing something.
Click to expand...

I would think that without the pull of athletic scholarships, Division III schools would a much closer able to parity when it comes to recruiting. Certainly there are other issues whose legacy status would continue for some time, but eventually many of those would also diminish. Unless I am missing something, a lack of scholarships is considered a major reason DIII gets left on the porch ;)

Also, while the elder PITA, Raplh isn't alone on this, as noted the the Drake Group, has for time spoke against them. The Drake Group's members include Joel Cormier and PSU's Kadence Otto.
 
Last edited:
Re: Ralph Nader calls for ending athletic scholarships

norm1909 said:
I would think that without the pull of athletic scholarships, Division III schools would a much closer able to parity when it comes to recruiting. Certainly there are other issues whose legacy status would continue for some time, but eventually many of those would also diminish. Unless I am missing something, a lack of scholarships is considered a major reason DIII gets left on the porch ;)

Also, while the elder PITA, Raplh isn't alone on this, as noted the the Drake Group, has for time spoke against them. The Drake Group's members include Joel Cormier and PSU's Kadence Otto.
Click to expand...

You're looking at it backwards from the NCAA's point of view - which, granted, I suppose to be the only way to consider this thread remotely worthwhile. They do not see it as leaving Division III out on the porch, but as focusing the vast majority of their efforts on the tremendously profitable entity that is Division I athletics. Which is one of many reasons why this will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever happen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top